Edition 48
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 How do you download? Right click on the  title of the music on the right hand side of the circular file logo, and SaveTarget As ( on IE ) or Save Link As  ( On Firefox ).

CINNAMON PECANS
Makes about 3 1/2 cups
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
3 cups pecan halves
Preheat oven to 325F.  Combine sugar, cinnamon and
salt in small bowl.  Whisk egg white in large bowl
until frothy. Add pecans to egg white and toss to coat. 
Add sugar mixture and toss thoroughly.  Spread pecans
in a single layer on heavy large cookie sheets. Bake
until toasted and crisp, about 20 minutes. Using spatula,
immediately loosen pecans from cookie sheets. Cool. 
(Can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. 

Store in airtight container

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, french hens, swimming swans and a partridge in a pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 - 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to the members of the church. Each element of the carol has a code word for a religous reality which children could remember.

The Partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ Two Turtle doves were the new and old testament Three french hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love Four Calling birds were the Four Gospels Five Golden Rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the old testament. Six Geese a laying stood for the six days of creation Seven Swans a swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy Eight maids a milking were the eight beatitudes. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the holy spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control Ten Lords a leaping were the Ten Commandments The Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples The twelve drummers drumming symbolised the twelve points of belief in the apostles creed.

For those who would like to see, my Christmas Page is HERE,

and it contains a video message from myself.

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This delightful circle was taken at Lamington national park, west of the Gold Coast. These are native Australian mountain parrots, the red and blue kind are crimson rosella and the red and green are King Parrots. They are feasting on sunflower seed which Mr. Watt had left for them, but did not expect them to form such a perfect ring. This guy on the bottom is about to jump into the centre, to the discontent of the other birds.

One of our readers, Virginia, has kindly shared another of her poems with everyone.

Thank you Virginia!

O Wondrous Star
 
O, Wondrous Star seen in the east,
guiding light to the birthplace of The King,
shine on in our hearts for all our days
giving us a song of praise to sing.
 
Yes, sing to the King of Kings
and praise His Holy Name,
never forgetting the time of His birth
 and the reason for which He came.
 
Jesus, our Savior and our Lord
the Blessed One from the Father,
come to earth to forgive our sins and
to give us Hope that's like no other .
 
Hope of Eternal life to be lived
 with the Holy Ones on high.
A life so far above our imagining
that our thoughts can't even come nigh!
 
So shine on, O Wondrous Star,
shine brightly as from the start,
keeping the light of the Christ alive,
shining brightly in our hearts.
 
Virginia Archer
12-09

When a male can't stand it anymore ! Priceless shot !

Copyright ©2006 Sally Y Hemingway

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,
We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago,
And etched on vacant places
Are half-forgotten faces
Of friends we used to cherish,
And loves we used to know.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox